Carpet-cleaning machine.



No. 871,700. PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.-

R. B. HUTGHISON.

CARPET CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 22, 1905.

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PATENTED NOV. 19,1907.

R. B. HUTGHISON. CARPET CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT B. HUTOHISON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOALFRED H. THURSTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CARPET-CLEANING MACHINE.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

Application filed November 22. 1905. Serial No. 288,571-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT B. I-IUToHI- SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania,have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements inCarpet- Cleaning Machines, of which the following isv a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming partof the specification, in which- Figure 1. is a longitudinal verticalsectional view of my improved carpet cleaning apparatus. Fig. 2. is aplan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3. is a vertical cross sectional view on theline III. III. of Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is an end elevation of the machine.Fig. 5. is a detail view showing the construction of the beater shaftand boaters. Fig. 6. is a similar view showing an additional cleaningbrush.

My invention refers to improvements in apparatus for cleaning carpets orrugs and comprises a casing having an entering and. an eXit slot atopposite sides for the article to be cleaned, said casing inclosing abeating device provided with a plurality of flexibly connected beatersadapted to be brought into continuous rapid contact with the rug as itis drawn through the case, together with means for discharging theloosened particles of dirt, dust, etc., means for driving the apparatus,means for adjusting the top or cover portion, and various other featuresof construction as shall be more fully hereinafter described.

Referring now to the drawings, 2 represents the supporting framework ofthe apparatus designed in any suitable manner and embodying alongitudinal inclosing chamber of the desired length for the articles tobe cleanedinclosed within side walls 3, 3, preferably hinged to permitof the chamber being opened, end walls 4, 4, a bottom or floor portion5, and a top or cover 6, which top or cover is preferably adjustable.Between the upper side edges of the casing and the lower side edges ofthe cover 6 is an intervening slot opening 7 provided at each side byraising the cover to the desired height. These openings 7 are ofsufficient width to allow of the passage therethrough, in and out of themachine, of the rug or carpet being cleaned, and extend along themachine at each side. The casing 6 may be raised and lowered for suchpurpose by means of any suitable suspending mechanism, as sectors 8pivoted at 9 provided with a crank handle 10, said sectors being capableof being set at varying positions by means of pins 11 inserted throughone of a series of holes 12 and provided with supporting straps 13connected with the cover, by which it may be conveniently raised, aswill be readily understood and then lowered.

Mounted in suitable bearings longitudinally of the casing at its upperportion is a shaft 14, above which shaft are a series of cross slats orsupporting bars 15 upon the curved upper faces of which the rug mayrest, with intervening clearance openings 16 through which the boatersmay pass to come into operative contact. Shaft 14 is pro vided with aseries of flexibly connected beaters consisting of weighted buttons 17secured at the ends of the flexible straps 18 attached to the shaft atintervals, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, said straps being preferablydouble t. 0. having a button at each end as shown, the straps beingpreferably arranged in staggered relation around the shaft.

19 is a centrifugal fan or blower adapted to discharge the looseneddust, etc. outwardly from the case into a receiving bag 20 01' to anysuitable point of discharge, said blower being driven by its pulleythrough belt 21 geared from pulley 22 mounted on shaft 14 at one end ofthe machine. The other end of shaft 14 is provided with a pulley 23geared through belt 24 from the driving pulley of an electric motor 25or other suitable prime mover located upon or incorporated with the mainframework of the apparatus.

For the purpose of arresting lint, strings or portions of the fabricliable to become entangled with the fan as carried thereinto by the air,I employ a screen 30 of wire netting located across the area of theinclosing chamber at one end, adjacent to the fan.

In Fig. 6 I show a modified detail view providing a supplementalrotating brush 26 geared by pulley 27 and belt 28 from a driving pulley29 mounted on shaft 14, the object of which construction is to morethoroughly cleanse the rug by removing any adhering particles.

The construction and operation of the invention will be readilyunderstood from the foregoing description.

The heaters are caused to come into contact with the under side of therug very rapidly depending on the speed of the driving shaft 14, whichmay be varied if desired, and will, very thoroughly agitate the fabricso as to thoroughly loosen and free it from any adhering particles.Owing to the simultaneous operation of the discharge fan, the dirt willbe continuously carried out from the interior by creating a suctiontherein, thus entirely preventing the escape of any dirt, etc. to theexterior.

From time to time accumulations of solid matter not removed by the fanmay be removed from the interior of the casing by raising the sides 3.The entire structure is preferably mounted upon casters as shown so thatit may be easily moved around upon the floor, connection being made tothe motor by wires from any suitable source of power.

The apparatus is comparatively simple in construction, not liable to getout of order and is capable of performing its functions in asatisfactory and eflicient manner. It may be made in different sizes tosuit the requirements of use and changed in various details ofconstruction by the skilled mechanic, but all such changes are to beconsidered as Within the scope of the following claims.

WVhat I claim is: I

1. In a carpet. cleaning apparatus, the combination of a mainrectangular framework embodying a hollow casing, upwardly archedtransverse supporting bars extending across the upper portion of thecasing with intervening clearance spaces, nally arranged shaft arrangedtransversely of and below said bars and provided with flexible beatingdevices adapted to play upwardly between the bars against the article tobe treated, a motor geared with said shaft, a fan within the casingadapted to carry off refuse material and also geared with said shaft, avertically arranged arresting screen arranged adjacent to the suctionside of said fan, and-a vertically adjustable cover for the casing withintervening entrance and exit openings, substantially as set forth.

2. In a carpet cleaning apparatus, the combination with the casing andcarpet cleaning means inclosed therein, of a cover- .ing top thereforadapted to be raised and lowered thereon to provide an entrance and anexit slot, pivotally mounted sectors provided with straps arranged tosup ort and actuate said top, and means for loc 'ng said sectors at thedesired position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

( ROBERT B. HUTCHISON. Witnesses:

C. M. CLARKE, CHAS. S. LEPLEY.

a longitudi-

